Chain is one of several independent grocers to open new stores in Metro Vancouver in 2015

Choices CEO Ishkandar Ahmed: "The population is definitely growing on the North Shore"

Fast-growing Vancouver-based grocer Choices Market plans to open its 11th location, in North Vancouver, in late spring 2016. Earlier this year, the company opened stores on Commercial Drive in Vancouver as well as in Burnaby and in Abbotsford.

The 25-year-old company's 12,000-square-foot store is set to be in Capilano Village, at 801 Marine Drive near Fell Avenue.

“North Vancouver is a hub for active health-conscious, community-minded citizens, and the population is definitely growing,” said Choices CEO Ishkandar Ahmed about why he chose to open in the area.

Other Vancouver-based independent grocers that have been expanding include Pomme Natural Market and Stong's Market.

Stong's is also planning to open in North Vancouver in spring 2016. Its second store – a 20,000-square-foot location – is under construction in Northwoods Village on Dollarton Highway.

Upstart Pomme Natural Market's four Victoria-based owners aim to open 10 stores in 10 years and are already ahead of schedule.

The Victoria-based foursome of Rasool Rayani, Ed Low, Dave Arnsdorf and Craig Hermanson opened their first store – a 16,000-square-foot location in Port Coquitlam – in January 2014. They then added a 5,000-square-foot second store on Davie Street in Vancouver in early 2015 and a 5,000-square-foot store in Nanaimo during the summer.